Tampa city council looks to curb wild parties surrounding UT campus

Landlord faces fine for parties thrown by tenants

You've heard the complaints about the University of Tampa student's parties. Now landlords could pay the price.

WFTS

WFTS

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Public urination, underage drinking and huge college parties. That's what some neighbors say they've been dealing with in communities surrounding University of Tampa.

A new ordinance looks to put a stop to all of it by fining the owner of the home if tenants get out of hand.

"The particular tenants who live there had some friends come over. Next thing you know I believe every freshman at UT was aware there was a party," said landlord Jerry King.

King owns 18 homes in the area surrounding University of Tampa. He said one home he owns threw a massive blowout last weekend. Nearly 300 kids filled the front yard and inside the home, two students were arrested, and one was even taken to the hospital.

"There was trash up and down the street," said King. "I went and knocked on the door the next day and said, 'Y'all got to get the trash out. It's your responsibility.'"

However, a proposed ordinance would now make it the landlord's responsibility if nuisance parties are hosted on their property.

"We agreed to do a warning first and then start issuing citations and fines," said councilman Frank Reddick.

Reddick said he received numerous complaints from community members living near where some of the parties took place. He said they complained of noise, trash and underage drinking.

Under the ordinance, a landlord would now be issued a warning upon the first violation. The second would cost them $450.

We reached out to neighbors Thursday who said since last year the issue of excessive parties has tapered off.

"They're college kids, and they don't make a lot of noise when they throw their parties," said one neighbor. "As a matter of fact when we throw our parties its about the same."

"They're kind of responsible, a lot of people of course but they're ok," said Andre Finch who lives directly across the street from one of the homes.

As for king he says if the ordinance is passed, he has no problem with it.

"I'll probably add something in the lease agreement, a little more stringent, letting them know it there is a fine, they're going to be held responsible for it," said King.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.